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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Last year, a chart comparing the New Hampshire health plans available under President Barack Obama's insurance overhaul law fit on one page. Now, Michael Wilkey has wallpapered his office with the information.
"It takes up an entire wall," said Wilkey, director of compliance at the state Department of Insurance. "This is my decor."
As the second sign-up season under the federal Affordable Care Act got underway Saturday, organizations reaching out to New Hampshire's 100,000 uninsured residents also started targeting another group — those who have insurance but might want to switch plans.
The number of companies offering health plans has increased from one to five, and the number of plans has jumped from 14 to 61. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has been joined by Assurant, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Maine Community Health Options and Minuteman Health for a total of 40 options for individuals and 21 for small businesses.
"Folks have to be very cautious. There are a lot of program elements that are different among the products," said Beth Roberts of Harvard Pilgrim. "It makes it exciting that there are a lot of offerings, but it also makes it more challenging for people to shop."
Given those significant changes, officials are urging uninsured and insured residents to explore their options. Those who purchased plans through the healthcare.gov marketplace will automatically be re-enrolled, but health care advocates say renewal may not be the best option because the tax credits that subsidize coverage could have changed. And some who signed up last year instead may be eligible for the state's newly expanded Medicaid program.
"Our No. 1, absolute, top message for 2015 open enrollment is: Everybody needs to go to healthcare.gov and check out their options," insurance department attorney Jennifer Patterson said.
That includes thousands of people who remain on plans that don't meet minimum requirements of the health law. The cancellation last fall of more than 20,000 individual policies in New Hampshire and millions of policies nationwide was one of the most damaging issues in the law's rollout because it contradicted Obama's promise that those who liked their insurance could keep it. The Obama administration later announced several extensions, as long as states and insurance companies allowed it.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, New Hampshire was among 34 states that allowed the extensions. Of the roughly 24,700 people who had noncompliant policies last fall, about 14,500 — or about 60 percent — remained in them by May, according to a report prepared for the state Insurance Department.
Karen Hicks, who leads Covering New Hampshire, the organization hired to promote the health care law in the state, said while the group's main focus remains reaching out to uninsured residents, it also is urging those with non-compliant plans to consider new plans.
"I think a lot of people hung back and let the dust settle," she said.
New Hampshire opted not to set up its own online insurance marketplace under the overhaul law and is partnering with the federal government to educate consumers and manage the health plans being offered. More than 40,000 New Hampshire residents selected health plans during the first enrollment period, and about 23,000 more have enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program.
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